“Is She Drunk?” Disability and Intersectional Stereotyping at Work

Maryanne is the owner and CEO of a retail toy store and associated day care supply distribution business. She recently hired an indigenous woman named Winona for a customer-facing job. Winona’s performance has been very good; however, customers frequently mistake her mild tremors, which are caused by a neurological condition, for signs of drunkenness. Maryanne has been facing escalating backlash from a portion of her customer base as a result of false allegations that she permits a drunken employee to work in an area frequented by children. She must decide how to handle the situation in a manner that is practical for her business but also ethical, legal, and fair. Maryanne considers multiple options, allowing for exploration of legal and ethical issues surrounding disability rights, ...